25-ethinyl steroids



Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Madison, N. J assignors to Schering Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J.,

Jersey a corporation or New No Drawing. Application June 7, 1950, Serial No. 166,772

Claims. (01. 260-3972) The present invention relates to steroid compounds of the nuclearly saturated and unsaturated series, and more particularly to derivatives of cholestane and cholestenel and of the various nor-degradation products thereof..

It is the general obj ect. of the invention to provide. compounds of the types above indicated which themselves possess important therapeutic functions, for example, as anabolic stimulants (EH3; BGH(CH2),.R wherein n-has the value 2 or 3 and'in which Bis a member of the group comprising i CHI and and in whichR is asaturated or unsaturated radical. of the formula:

wherein X is methyl (when n is 3) methyl (when n is 2), Y is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, alicyclic, aryl, or aralkyl group, and Z and Z' each is a hydroxyl group or a group convertible thereto with the aid of hydrolysis, such as an; ester (acetoxy, propionoxy, benzoyloxy, etc.) or ether (methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, benzoxy, etc.) group, Y and Z being capable also of forming together an alkenylene radical.

The following equations illustrate certain. of the compounds of the present invention and the preferred methods of preparation:

CH: (3111 CH: (EH: JZH-OHz-CHz-CHwfi HCH:CHr CHQ-?H OH I ZQ' V 6 IV V l t l ([JHM CH: $11; 7 $11:

GH-CHr-CHr-CHz-C-Y CH-CHr-CHa-CHx-C-H OH a1 VII . EEQVIII Y and Z having the meaning indicated above, and Hal standing for halogen.

The reduction of -ketonorcholestero1 derivatives of the Type IV can be accomplished with hydrogen and a catalyst, such as Raney nickel, to give compounds of Type V. Chemical reducing agents such as sodium-alcohol and lithium aluminum hydride may also beadvantageously used, and also other catalytic methods of reduction.

The halogenation of 25-hydroxynorcholesterol derivatives of ype V give compounds of Type VI. For example, treatment of Compound V with phosphorus oxychloride or thionyl chloride gives the 25-chloro-derivative of Formula VI.

The reaction of 25-ketonorcho1esterol derivatives of Type IV with Grignard reagents give compounds of Type VII. The choice of Grignard reagent determines the nature of the substituent Y. For example, with ethyl magnesium bromide, compounds of Formula VII are obtained wherein Y is ethyl; with cyclohexyl magnesium bromide, Y is cyclohexyl; with benzyl magnesium chloride,

Y is benzyl, with phenyl magnesium bromide, it

is phenyl, etc.

The condensation of 25-ketonorcholesterol derivatives of Type IV with potassium acetylide or acetylene Grignard reagents give compounds of 7 Type VIII.

side-chain double bond is not definitely known but may be located as shown in XI, XII or XIII when Y is ethyl. During these transformations it is preferable to have the 3-hydroxy position protected, for example by acylation to 3-acetoxy 3-propionoxy, 3-carboethoxy, etc.

XI XII XIV The oxidation of compounds of Types VI, VII, VIII, and X wherein Z is hydroxyl gives A -3- keto derivatives of Type XIV. The oxidation is carried out by any of the known methods for such transformations.

droxyl to the 3-keto group with a shift of the olefin bond from the A to the A position. Also, by converting compounds of Types VI, VII, VIII, and X into their 5,6-dibromo derivatives, and

- oxidizing with chromium trioxide, 3-keto-5,6-

dibromo derivatives are obtained which are debrominated by known methods to give the keto compounds of Type XIV. For example, the ring double bond can readily be regenerated by treatment with zinc dust and acetic acid, or by treatment with sodium iodide in alcohol or acetone.

With compounds of Type V it is necessary to protect the 25-hydroxyl group, as by acylation before oxidation with a lower fatty acylating agent, like acetic or propionic anhydride, to prevent an attack on this group.

To produce a 3--OH25-ester, a mixed 3,25- diester can first be prepared by esterifying the 3-acetoxy-25-o1 compound with an acyl group XIII For example, Oppenauer oxidation with ketones readily converts the 3-hyentrance:

which hydrolyzes less readily than the acetyl group, such as the. benzoyl group, followed by partial hydrolysis.

For those compounds of general formula $113 n-omomn-n wherein n equals 2,. the preferred starting materials are 24-keto-nor-cholesterol derivatives of the Type XV.

By a similar sequence of reactions as shown for the 25-keto compounds, the 24-keto compounds can be transformed into the corresponding ethinyl, ethylenic, hydroxy, halogen, and the alkyl, alicyclic, aryl, and aralkyl derivatives. As illustrative examples, the following formulae are representative, only the group attached to the l'Z-carbon being shown:

By starting with the corresponding nuclearly saturated sterols, such as 25-ketonorcholestanol and 24-ketonorcholestanol, the corresponding saturated derivatives can be prepared. Those saturated compounds wherein Z is hydroxyl can readily be oxidized to give the corresponding B-keto derivatives by known methods, such as by treatment with chromium trioxide in acetic acid.

The invention will be further described in the following examples which are presented by way of illustration and not as indicating the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE: 1

25-hydroxy cholesterol i CHCH2-CH2 CHr-(P CH3):

& OR

A solution of 85.8 grams of 25-ketonorcholesteryl acetate in 500 ml. of anhydrous thiophenefree benzene was added to a Grignard solution prepared from 24.3 grams of magnesium, 149 grams of freshly distilled methyl iodide, and 575 ml. of anhydrous ethyl ether. The mixture was refluxed for three hours and allowed'to stand overnight. After cooling to 5"" C.,. the complex was decomposed by the slow addition of 200ml. of ice. water and 400 ml. of 50%. acetic. acid solution, and steam distilled until no more. oil; passed over. The product was filtered at 25 C., washed with water until neutral and dried at 0., yielding 82.5 grams of 25-hydroxy cholesterol, M. P. 178.4-180.5 C. The product was crystallized from methanol and gave fine needles melting at 181.5-182.5 0.; [a] =39.3 (2% in CHCls).

EXAMPLE 2 25-hydroxycholesteryl acetate E CH-CH1CHr-GH:G (CHI):

The hydroxycholesterol of Example 1 was.-

acetylated with acetic anhydride and pyridine at 60 C. The crude product was crystallized from acetone to give fine needles melting at 142.4-- l42.8 0.; [a] =-40.4 (2% in CHCla).

EXAMPLE 3 25-acetomycholesteryl acetate (3H3 CH-CH2-CH2GHr-G(ICH:): i omooo QHSCOOQ The hydroxycholesterol of Example 1 was acetylated by refluxing with acetic anhydride for several hours. The crude product melted at 0.; [a] =39.2 (2% in CHC1a)..

EXAMPLE 4 A -cholestene-25-oZ-3- ne wasfiltered on a mat of diatomaceous earth and dried. The mixture of product and earth was exhaustively extracted a number of times with methylene. chloride to remove the sterol.

volume and the methylene chloride replaced with ethyl ether. The ethyl ether solution: was concentrated. until. crystals appeared, cooled and. fil

The I combined extracts were concentrated to. a low EXAMPLE 5 The product was filtered at 25 0., washed with Water until neutral and dried at 80 C., yielding 98.9 grams. The crude product was recrystallized successively from acetone and ethyl acetate to give fine needles of A -norcholestene-25-ethyl- 3,25-diol, melting at 154.2-158.4 C.;

(2% in CHClz) EXAMPLE 6 A -nrchoZestene-25-ethyl-3,25-diol-S-acetate The product of Example was acetylated according to the method described in Example 2. The pure monoacetate melted at 111.2'-111.6 C.; [a] =39.5 (2% in C'HCls).

EXAMPLE 7 A -norcholestene- 25-ethyZ-25-ol-3-0ne CH; CH3

The diol of Example 5 was oxidized by the procedure given in Example 4, corresponding molar proportions being used. The combined methylene chloride extracts were concentrated to a low volume and this solvent replaced with methanol. The methanolic solution was concentrated to a thick crystal slurry, cooled and filtered. The pure product after successive recrystallizations from methanol and acetone melted at 24.5-127.2 C.; [aIl =i-82.O (2% in CI-ICls).

EXAMPLE 8 L25-dehydrocholesteryZ acetate 25-hydroxycholesteryl acetate (25.5 grams) was refluxed for /2 hour with 750 ml. of dry pyridine and 25.5 ml. of freshlydistilled phosphorous oxychloride. The mixture was cooled to 20 C. and poured into ice water with agitation. The resulting crystals were filtered, washed neutral with water and dried, yielding 24.0 grams. The crude product was dissolved in hot benzene, treated with ZO-grams of activated carbon and filtered through a mat of diatomaceous earth. The filtrate was concentrated to a small volume and the benzene completely replaced with methanol by (ac-distilling with methanol until no more benzene passed over in the distillate. The methanol solution was concentrated to a thin slurry of crystals, cooled to 5 C. and filtered to give 21.0 grams of plates, melting at 93.5-94.-.0 C.; [a] =-4=3.6 (2% in CHCls).

EXAMPLE 9 ZS-dehydrocholesterol (1113 CH: CHCH9CH2CH2-&=CHI

25-dehydrocholesterol acetate was hydrolyzed EXAMPLE 10 A -choZestadiene-3-one '25-dehydrocholesterol was oxidized following the procedure given in Example 7. The pure compound melted at. 86.6-89.0 C

amazes Acetylene was passed into a solution of 28.5

grams of potassium in 1.5 liters of liquid am-" monia until the blue color disappeared. A solution containing 100 grams of 25-ketonorcholesteryl acetate dissolved in 500 ml. of dry pyridine was then added dropwise.

EXAMPLE 12 A -norchoZestene-25-ethinyl-25-oZ-3-one CH3 OH;

A -norcholestene-25-ethinyl-3:25-diol, obtained {according to Example 11, Was oxidized following the procedure given "in Example 4. The combined methylene chloride extracts were concen- OHsCOO- To 40 grams of 25-ketonorcholesteryl acetate dissolved in 300 ml. of benzene was added Raney nickel catalyst (prepared from 90 grams of Raney nickel catalyst powder) suspended in 100 m1. of

The'reaction mix-, ture was allowed .to stand at room temperature methyl, alcohol. The suspension was reduced with hydrogen for ten hours at 20 lbs. pressure.

The r tion mixture wa fil er d through diatom eou earth which w s then washed wi h methanol. Thefi trat was concentrated t dry- 1 10 ness and therresidue recrystallized from methanol to give a polymorphic mixture, M. "P. 117- 129 0.; [a] 4 0.3 2% in CHCls).

A solution of 23.2 grams. of potassium :carbonate in 70 .ml. of water was added to :a solution of 39 grams .of A -;norcholestene-.3,25-diole3-acetate in 470 ml. of methanol and the mixture refluxed for two hours. The mixture was poured into water and the precipitated product filtered and dried. After successive recrystallizations from acetone and benzene, the polymorphicproduct melted at 158168 0.; .[a] =-36.9 (2% in CHCIs).

EXAlVIPLE 15 A -norchoZestene-3,25-diol diacetate Am not OHaCOO To a solution of 50 grams of M-norcholestene- 3,25-diol-3-acetate in 300 ml. of dry dioxane and 92 ml. of dry pyridine at 11,C. was slowly added 40 ml. of benzoyl chloride. The mixture was stirred for two hours and allowed to. stand at room temperature overnight. Concentrated ammonium hydroxide (47 .ml.) was. added keeping the temperature below 15C. The mixture was then poured into ice water and the resulting .oil separated and washed with water by decantation. The oil was dissolved in acetone and the acetone concentrated to a-low volume. .The acetone was replaced with .ethyl ether by co-distilling with ether untilno more acetone passed .over in the distillate. The volume of the ether was then ad- 'justed .to 1.00 ml. Upon standing in a refrigerator overnight athick mass .of crystals separated. An equal volume of petroleumetherflwas added. the

crystals filtered and dried to give 23.5 grams, M. P. 82.4-89.5 C.

EXAMPLE 1'7 A?-nrcholestene-3,25-diol-25-benzoate To a solution of 1.5 grams of potassium hydroxide in 900 ml. of methanol was added 15 grams of the 3-acetate-25-benzoate prepared in Example 16. The mixture was stirred for 33 hours at 15-20 C., poured into water and filtered. The crude product weighing 12.5 grams was recrystallized from methanol and dried in a vacuum oven to give the pure compound, M. P. 79.5-81.2 C.; [a] =29.7 (2% in CHCls).

EXAMPLE 18 A -norcholestene-25-ol-3-one CH: C H: H-CHa-CH2-CH2$H 8.0 grams of the 3-ol-25-benzoate prepared in Example 17 was oxidized by the procedure given in Example 4. The methylene chloride extracts were evaporated to dryness and the resulting oil hydrolyzed by refluxing two hours with a solution of 3.7 grams of potassium hydroxide in 96 ml. of methanol. The hydrolysis mixture was poured into water, filtered and the product washed with water until the washings were neutral to litmus. The crude product (weighing 6.3 grams) after several recrystallizations from methanol melted at 157.6-158.1 C.

EXAMPLE 19 A -norchoZestene-3-oZ-25-chloro-3-acetate CH3 CH3 I-H-CH:CH:CH2( lH To a solution of 40 grams of A -norcholestene- 3,25-diol-3-acetate in 1200 ml. of dry pyridine was added 40 ml. of freshly distilled phosphorus oxychloride. The mixture was refluxed for hour, cooled to C. and the excess phosphorus oxychloride destroyed by the slow addition of ice. After pouring into excess water, the precipitated product was filtered and washed neutral with water. The dried crude product was dissolved in 1 liter'of 'hot benzene and filtered to remove a :brown insoluble substance. The filtrate after treatment with decolorizing charcoal was con- 12 centrated to a low volume and the benzene replaced with methanol. The methonal solution was concentrated until it became turbid, cooled and filtered to yield 23.0 grams. Recrystallizations from acetone gave needles that melted at 116.2117.0 C.; [a] =35.4 (2% in CHCla).

EXAMPLE 20 A -n0rcholestene-ZS-chZOro-3-ol CH; 7 CH: (JH-CHa-CHrOHa-AZB.

15 grams of the acetate of Example 19 were refluxed for two hours with a solution of 8.5 grams of potassium hydroxide in 420 m1. of ethanol. The hydrolysis mixture was poured into excess water, filtered and washed neutral with water. The crude product (weight 13.5 grams) after recrystallization from methanol and from acetone gave fine needles that melted 10.5 grams of A -n0rcholestene-25-chloro-3-ol was oxidized following the procedure given in Example 4. The methylene chloride extracts were concentrated to dryness, dissolved in methanol and treated with decolorizing charcoal. The solution was concentrated to 50 ml. and stored overnight in a refrigerator. The precipitated product was separated by filtration and dried to yield 8.0 grams. After successive recrystallizations from methanol and acetone, the needle-like product melted at 119.0-1l9.9 C.; [a] =|-101.6 (2% in CHCls) EXAMPLE 22 24-hydroxy-24-methyl norcholesterol CH1 CH3 (1H2 n-orwom-(Zom A solution of 1.5 grams of 24-ketonorcholesteryl acetate in 15 ml. of anhydrous thiophene-free benzene was added to a Grignard solution pre-. pared from 0.47 gram of magnesium, 2.88 grams of methyl iodide and 10 ml. of anhydrous ethyl ethe Th mixture was refluxed for 2 hours and EXAMPLE 23 A -norcholestene-3,24-dioZ-3-acetate CH3 lHa m i. mg

24-ketonorcholesteryl acetate was reduced by the procedure given in Example 13, the same catalyst and pressure being used. The monoacylated diol was obtained.

EXAMPLE 24 A -norcholestene-3-oZ-24-chZoro-3-acetate (kH-CHg-CHa- A solution of 1.0 gram of 24-ketonorcholesteryl acetate in 10 ml. of anhydrous benzene was added to a Grignard solution prepared from 0.32 gram of magnesium, 2.22 grams of cyclohexyl bromide and 10 ml. of anhydrous ethyl ether. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours and allowed to stand overnight. The Grignard complex was decomposed and the product isolated as described in Example 22.

EXAMPLE 26 M-norcholestene-Z4-benzyZ-3,24-di|ol $Ha CH3 CH2 A solution of 2.0 grams of 24-ketonorchoilesteryl acetate in ml. of anhydrous benzene was added to a Grignard solution prepared from 0.613 gram of magnesium, 4.6 grams of benzyl bromide and 15 ml. of anhydrous ethyl ether. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours and allowed to stand overnight. The resulting Grignard complex was decomposed with water and the product isolated as described in Example 22.

We claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of nuclearly saturated and. unsaturated 25-0Y-25-ethinyl norcholestenes having at the 3- position a member of the class consisting of secondary hydroxyl and keto groups, Y being a member of the class consisting of hydrogen and the acyl groups of lower alkanoic and benzoic acids.

2. A -norcholestene-25ethinyl-3,25-diol.

3. A -norcholestene-25-ethinyl-25-ol-3-one.

4. 25-hydroxyl-25-ethinyl norcholestanes.

5. 25-hydroxy1-25-ethinyl norcholestenes.

AUGUST I. RYER. WILLIAM H. GEBERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent Riegel, Journ. Am. Chem. Soc. 66, 723-724 (1944). 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NUCLEARLY SATURATED AND UNSATURATED 25-OY-25-ETHINYL NORCHOLESTENES HAVING AT THE 3POSITION A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF SECONDARY HYDROXYL AND KETO GROUPS, Y BEING A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN AND THE ACYL GROUPS OF LOWER ALKANOIC AND BENZOIC ACIDS. 